mav, I largely agree with your point, "I was responding to a post that seemed to be saying my ordinary use of mangulage was an assault or battery that would land me in the cells! The day I take linguistic lessons from the lawyers is the day I'll let my cat feed the birds.

Your usage is quite correct. In some area more precisely-honed definitions are necessary (and law is one such area, for upon the precise definition of "assault" can turn the rather important question of whether an individual is sent to jail), but that in no way limits the scope of proper usage outside those areas.